SL/R230: SL owners - lack of individuality
11-18-2004, 08:47 AM
#28
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Cayenne Turbo
Originally Posted by Miki-SL500
I've been searching the web for weeks looking for photos of SL in colors other than black/silver/white but could not find any.
Most, if not 95% of all cars i've seen have black leather interior. Black leather is completely outdated for small luxury convertibles, looks terrible with top down and makes the interior look much smaller than it actually is.
Why do people, who can afford $130K stick with this combo ? Add an extra 5k and build your own uniq car with designo, otherwise get a S class.
Most, if not 95% of all cars i've seen have black leather interior. Black leather is completely outdated for small luxury convertibles, looks terrible with top down and makes the interior look much smaller than it actually is.
Why do people, who can afford $130K stick with this combo ? Add an extra 5k and build your own uniq car with designo, otherwise get a S class.
I agree You 100%!!! I don't like dark interiour either!
Your car looks fantastic!!
P.S.
Look behing your car at the pics: a few dougnuts have already been made ther!!!
11-18-2004, 09:13 AM
#29
Senior Member
I changed my color to black at the last minute before production. I also had to consider this was going to be my every day runner so I had to be a little conservative. My first choice was Capri Blue with the ash interior but, after talking to a number of Mercedes enthusiast friends around the country, EVERY SINGLE ONE advised against the blue. Their thoughts were towards resale on a high end SL and STRONGLY recomended black and silver.
My view was that it was supposed to be a "fun" or "sporty" car and it could use some color. I am glad I went with the ash interior as the black interiors are seem to show more dirt and dust and is quite warm top and down in So. Florida. I generally like cantrast between my interior and exterior (dark/light)
If I were to do it again and this was my 3rd car, I would consider the following colors:
Black/Berry (a little sportier)
Capri Blue/Ash (I've always liked very,very deep blue cars/trucks)
Agean Blue/Stone (very nice in person)
My view was that it was supposed to be a "fun" or "sporty" car and it could use some color. I am glad I went with the ash interior as the black interiors are seem to show more dirt and dust and is quite warm top and down in So. Florida. I generally like cantrast between my interior and exterior (dark/light)
If I were to do it again and this was my 3rd car, I would consider the following colors:
Black/Berry (a little sportier)
Capri Blue/Ash (I've always liked very,very deep blue cars/trucks)
Agean Blue/Stone (very nice in person)
11-20-2004, 01:36 PM
#30
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SLK55 AMG
Originally Posted by R230_Nicke
Yeah. That was a real nice color!
As far as silver goes i guess quite a few chose them since it is the official racing color for Mercedes. Silver arrow You know.. Just like red is the "right" color for a Ferrari.
Not to mention that silver is very easy to maintain.
My main choise would be black. You cant go wrong with black. Almost any car looks great in that color. I guess thats why these two colors are so common.
But I ended up with: Green black (Smaragdschwartz) and graphite mainly becouse i bought it used. (Not that many to chose from) But the color start to grow on me. It shift from blue - green - purple - graphite grey to black depending of the light.
As far as silver goes i guess quite a few chose them since it is the official racing color for Mercedes. Silver arrow You know.. Just like red is the "right" color for a Ferrari.
Not to mention that silver is very easy to maintain.
My main choise would be black. You cant go wrong with black. Almost any car looks great in that color. I guess thats why these two colors are so common.
But I ended up with: Green black (Smaragdschwartz) and graphite mainly becouse i bought it used. (Not that many to chose from) But the color start to grow on me. It shift from blue - green - purple - graphite grey to black depending of the light.
11-20-2004, 01:39 PM
#31
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SLK55 AMG
Originally Posted by Trimmer2
I changed my color to black at the last minute before production. I also had to consider this was going to be my every day runner so I had to be a little conservative. My first choice was Capri Blue with the ash interior but, after talking to a number of Mercedes enthusiast friends around the country, EVERY SINGLE ONE advised against the blue. Their thoughts were towards resale on a high end SL and STRONGLY recomended black and silver.
My view was that it was supposed to be a "fun" or "sporty" car and it could use some color. I am glad I went with the ash interior as the black interiors are seem to show more dirt and dust and is quite warm top and down in So. Florida. I generally like cantrast between my interior and exterior (dark/light)
If I were to do it again and this was my 3rd car, I would consider the following colors:
Black/Berry (a little sportier)
Capri Blue/Ash (I've always liked very,very deep blue cars/trucks)
Agean Blue/Stone (very nice in person)
My view was that it was supposed to be a "fun" or "sporty" car and it could use some color. I am glad I went with the ash interior as the black interiors are seem to show more dirt and dust and is quite warm top and down in So. Florida. I generally like cantrast between my interior and exterior (dark/light)
If I were to do it again and this was my 3rd car, I would consider the following colors:
Black/Berry (a little sportier)
Capri Blue/Ash (I've always liked very,very deep blue cars/trucks)
Agean Blue/Stone (very nice in person)
11-21-2004, 12:13 AM
#32
MBWorld Fanatic!
Color combo references.
Found when Googling for colors:
http://carmodeler.net/catalog-foreig...cedesSL500.htm
Handy reference to the names MB have given their paint and leather colors.
Found when Googling for colors:
http://carmodeler.net/catalog-foreig...cedesSL500.htm
Handy reference to the names MB have given their paint and leather colors.
11-21-2004, 01:01 AM
#34
Originally Posted by Miki-SL500
One last question to all SL owners before my conclusion, how old are you, where are you from and do you run your own company or work for someone ?
If anyone cares, I'm also broke because I just spent all my money on my friends birthday present.
Haha, this is what happens when you've had gallons of gatorade while working with car audio.
11-21-2004, 01:31 AM
#35
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2005 C320wz
cool car. whenever I hear the song "hotel california" and it gets to the part where don henley sang "she got a Mercedes-Benz" I always picture that Mercedes-Benz to be a SL500 
11-21-2004, 08:30 AM
#36
Senior Member
Originally Posted by SLK55_AMG
Being in florida, what do you think of your black car in sunny florida (rainy too)
11-21-2004, 08:52 PM
#37
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Build date 2-04 E500
Originally Posted by tiggerfink
If I get some pink fuzzy dice would you be happy.
11-21-2004, 09:20 PM
#38
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Does any one out there have pictures of this combination:
Designo Mocha Black Metallic with the Sand Leather?
Designo Mocha Black Metallic with the Sand Leather?
11-21-2004, 10:31 PM
#39
MBWorld Fanatic!
I looked up some stastistics on colors ... and found that silver was not all that popular 10 years ago:
Interesting facts from "The SL Experience" book.
The top selling colors for the 1998 SL were:
1) Firemist (red) ... 25%
2) Black ... 19%
3) Brilliant Silver ... 16%
4) Smoke Silver ... 9%
5) Glacier White ... 8%
6) Magma Red ... 8%
7) Dark Turquoise ... 3%
8) Mineral Green ... 2%
9) Obsidian Black ... 1%
10) Black Opal ... 1%
Balance % more or less split between Azure Blue, Bahama Blue, Sunburst Yellow, Aspen Green, Bordeaux and Others.
The other years printed, no % figures, ranked by popularity that year:
In 1994 the top ten in order of most, to less popular were: 1) Black, 2) Imperial Red, 3) Arctic White, 4) Brilliant Emerald, 5) Smoke Silver, 6) Black Pearl, 7) Brilliant Silver, 8) Spruce Green, 9) Midnight Blue, 10) Teal Blue.
In 1993 the top ten in order of most, to less popular were: 1) Black, 2) Signal Red, 3) Arctic White, 4) Black Pearl, 5) Smoke Silver, 6) Brilliant Silver, 7) Spruce Green, 8) Midnight Blue, 9) Teal Blue, 10) Canyon Brown.
Interesting facts from "The SL Experience" book.
The top selling colors for the 1998 SL were:
1) Firemist (red) ... 25%
2) Black ... 19%
3) Brilliant Silver ... 16%
4) Smoke Silver ... 9%
5) Glacier White ... 8%
6) Magma Red ... 8%
7) Dark Turquoise ... 3%
8) Mineral Green ... 2%
9) Obsidian Black ... 1%
10) Black Opal ... 1%
Balance % more or less split between Azure Blue, Bahama Blue, Sunburst Yellow, Aspen Green, Bordeaux and Others.
The other years printed, no % figures, ranked by popularity that year:
In 1994 the top ten in order of most, to less popular were: 1) Black, 2) Imperial Red, 3) Arctic White, 4) Brilliant Emerald, 5) Smoke Silver, 6) Black Pearl, 7) Brilliant Silver, 8) Spruce Green, 9) Midnight Blue, 10) Teal Blue.
In 1993 the top ten in order of most, to less popular were: 1) Black, 2) Signal Red, 3) Arctic White, 4) Black Pearl, 5) Smoke Silver, 6) Brilliant Silver, 7) Spruce Green, 8) Midnight Blue, 9) Teal Blue, 10) Canyon Brown.
11-22-2004, 12:48 PM
#40
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I think red has recently gone out of favour, even with traditional "red" manufacturers like Porsche and Ferrari. As of last year, 50% of R230s are silver and 20% are black.
11-22-2004, 03:35 PM
#41
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2004 SL55 AMG
Originally Posted by ChrisB
I looked up some stastistics on colors ... and found that silver was not all that popular 10 years ago:
Interesting facts from "The SL Experience" book.
The top selling colors for the 1998 SL were:
1) Firemist (red) ... 25%
2) Black ... 19%
3) Brilliant Silver ... 16%
4) Smoke Silver ... 9%
5) Glacier White ... 8%
6) Magma Red ... 8%
7) Dark Turquoise ... 3%
8) Mineral Green ... 2%
9) Obsidian Black ... 1%
10) Black Opal ... 1%
Balance % more or less split between Azure Blue, Bahama Blue, Sunburst Yellow, Aspen Green, Bordeaux and Others.
The other years printed, no % figures, ranked by popularity that year:
In 1994 the top ten in order of most, to less popular were: 1) Black, 2) Imperial Red, 3) Arctic White, 4) Brilliant Emerald, 5) Smoke Silver, 6) Black Pearl, 7) Brilliant Silver, 8) Spruce Green, 9) Midnight Blue, 10) Teal Blue.
In 1993 the top ten in order of most, to less popular were: 1) Black, 2) Signal Red, 3) Arctic White, 4) Black Pearl, 5) Smoke Silver, 6) Brilliant Silver, 7) Spruce Green, 8) Midnight Blue, 9) Teal Blue, 10) Canyon Brown.
Interesting facts from "The SL Experience" book.
The top selling colors for the 1998 SL were:
1) Firemist (red) ... 25%
2) Black ... 19%
3) Brilliant Silver ... 16%
4) Smoke Silver ... 9%
5) Glacier White ... 8%
6) Magma Red ... 8%
7) Dark Turquoise ... 3%
8) Mineral Green ... 2%
9) Obsidian Black ... 1%
10) Black Opal ... 1%
Balance % more or less split between Azure Blue, Bahama Blue, Sunburst Yellow, Aspen Green, Bordeaux and Others.
The other years printed, no % figures, ranked by popularity that year:
In 1994 the top ten in order of most, to less popular were: 1) Black, 2) Imperial Red, 3) Arctic White, 4) Brilliant Emerald, 5) Smoke Silver, 6) Black Pearl, 7) Brilliant Silver, 8) Spruce Green, 9) Midnight Blue, 10) Teal Blue.
In 1993 the top ten in order of most, to less popular were: 1) Black, 2) Signal Red, 3) Arctic White, 4) Black Pearl, 5) Smoke Silver, 6) Brilliant Silver, 7) Spruce Green, 8) Midnight Blue, 9) Teal Blue, 10) Canyon Brown.
Thanks for the list. Very interesting. Additionally, this list goes to show you that Black/Silver have classically done very well in the midst of colors available. 1998 shows 25% Silver Variants = 25% of Firemist Red while Black accounts for 19%. Black#1 1993,1994. Silver variants #5-#7 so regardless of
the most popular color, these classic colors are always desireable. Besides, this is a sample pool of only 3 Production model years in the 1990s. ChrisB, do you happen to have a link for these color spreads?
11-27-2004, 11:20 PM
#42
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RU_MATRX
Sorry, no link that I know of. Unless it is at
TheSLExperience.com
I got this out of the "The SL Experience Five Decades of the Mercedes-Benz SL" book by John R. Olson. Page 158.
The table of data covers 9 years between 1980 and 1998. All in the format of the following other example:
In 1980 the top ten in order of most, to less popular were: 1) Light Ivory, 2) Classic White, 3) Astral Silver, 4) Silver Blue Metalic, 5) Champagne Metalic 6) Signal Red Black, 7), 8),9), Other ??? 10) Antracite, 11) Midnight Blue, 12)Black
I see that Black was not popular (ranking 12, 7, 9, 8 from the top color in 80, 82, 83, 84 respectively) untill 1987 when it broke into #3 color spoat and has been 31 or #2 since.
Sorry, no link that I know of. Unless it is at
TheSLExperience.com
I got this out of the "The SL Experience Five Decades of the Mercedes-Benz SL" book by John R. Olson. Page 158.
The table of data covers 9 years between 1980 and 1998. All in the format of the following other example:
In 1980 the top ten in order of most, to less popular were: 1) Light Ivory, 2) Classic White, 3) Astral Silver, 4) Silver Blue Metalic, 5) Champagne Metalic 6) Signal Red Black, 7), 8),9), Other ??? 10) Antracite, 11) Midnight Blue, 12)Black
I see that Black was not popular (ranking 12, 7, 9, 8 from the top color in 80, 82, 83, 84 respectively) untill 1987 when it broke into #3 color spoat and has been 31 or #2 since.
12-01-2004, 06:53 PM
#43
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SL500 and A-CLASS
Originally Posted by vraa
He still won 1st and 2nd place?
That's a beautiful color combo, draws lots of attention because of it's subtle nature of the car.
Those are the Launch Edition wheels I think, far from ordinary.
That's a beautiful color combo, draws lots of attention because of it's subtle nature of the car.
Those are the Launch Edition wheels I think, far from ordinary.
Dealer told me today that I have Launch Edition wheels. To me, they look the same as the wheels at www.mbusa.com on a SL500. So what is the differance between LE and standard wheels on a SL500?
12-02-2004, 03:42 AM
#44
Senior Member
Their thoughts were towards resale on a high end SL and STRONGLY recomended black and silver.
I am glad I went with the ash interior as the black interiors are seem to show more dirt and dust and is quite warm top and down in So. Florida.
Also, as you state the ash as a countermeasure against the heat of (our) South Florida location, this puzzles me as to why you wouldn't be factoring this in upon a far more relevant aspect; the exterior...?
Nevertheless, reading your specs, you've got a "hot" car in anyone's view.
Nice job!
We're going to be doing a special event with Billboard in South beach for an annual awards show conference with MB as primary sponsor and we'll be looking for hot local MB's to cavalcade our event with national network TV footage. Interested in displaying your car? The event is next Fall/Autuum.
BTW, did you ever get your directional (sport package) wheels sold, or did you hold onto them? Many just elect to do the latter upon swapping them out. I recall you preferring the base 600 wheels over the sport package several months ago. I think you were dealing with J. Bradley at Fort Laud.
My wife wants a new 500 with the combo above (and panoramic roof - which some claim heats up the car down here, too - I don't know that I agree; after all, it has the sunshade) with sports package. She likes the directional wheels just as much as the double-spoke AMG version.
I prefer the 600, but then we'd have two SL's. That new Aston Martin (Vantage V8) coming soon prices at under $110K - I'm tempted. (But no roadster.)
12-02-2004, 03:50 AM
#45
Senior Member
Not a problem at all. The car is garaged, windows tinted, ash interior
I live east (beach) so, not nearly as much rain as mid to western Broward.
Likely relocating southeast (Miami Beach) soon for business concentration.
12-04-2004, 01:43 PM
#46
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SL500 and A-CLASS
I was at the dealership on Friday and I over heard 2 ladies talking about the SL500 in the show room. I kind of laugh because they were talking about how many outfits would match nicely with the color of the car. So when I saw my wife later that night, I asked her if matching outfits was one of the reasons for the color. She and her friend said yes. I would never thought of matching outfits a reason to pick a color for a car.
Last edited by tiggerfink; 12-04-2004 at 02:59 PM.
12-04-2004, 02:27 PM
#47
MBWorld Fanatic!
Originally Posted by tiggerfink
I was at the dealership on Friday and I over heard 2 ladies talking about the SL500 in the show room. I kind of laugh because that were talking about how many outfits would match nicely with the color of the car. So when I saw my wife later that night, I asked her if matching outfits was one of the reasons for the color. She and her friend said yes. I would never thought of matching outfits a reason to pick a color for a car.
